Soaking Rain to Arrive in Philly, NYC, DC at End of Week

AccuWeather Global Weather Center -- AccuWeather reports dry weather has returned to the Northeast after an unsettled few days earlier in the week. However, it will be short-lived.

A plume of moisture riding along a stationary boundary will trek across the Ohio Valley and into the mid-Atlantic as the week draws to an end.

Some of the moisture will be associated with once Tropical Storm Simon that soaked the Southwest earlier in the week. Part of Simon's moisture has been sheared off and is pushing eastward.

Although the rain will not be as heavy compared to the amount that falls across the central portion of the country Thursday into Friday, it will be heavy enough to bring the risk for delays and cancellations from Washington, D.C., to Boston into the weekend.

"Rain will spread from the Ohio Valley to the mid-Atlantic Friday, reaching Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia by the afternoon," said AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Steve Travis.

An increase in clouds and the arrival of rain will keep temperatures at rather chilly readings. Highs on Friday and Saturday will remain in the mid-50s to low 60s for most, about 5 to 10 degrees below normal. Light jackets and sweatshirts will be needed.

New York City may be lucky enough to stay dry for much of the daytime Friday. "Rain will likely hold off until the evening but will continue through the overnight hours," said Travis.

The rain could begin during the evening rush hour, creating hazardous travel for those taking to the road.

Damp roads and lowered visibility may pose a problem as people commute home. Wet roadways decrease stopping time and motorists are urged to give plenty of space between their vehicle and the next one.

Once the rain arrives, it will occur for an extended period of time, becoming more persistent as the night goes on. "Steady rainfall can be expected for much of Friday night from Washington, D.C., to New York City," added Travis.

Heavier pockets of rain will fall occasionally in the late evening and overnight and will heighten the risk for flight delays at some of the major hubs.

The northward advancement of the rain will be limited thanks to a dry dome of high pressure. This will keep the eastern Great Lakes region dry, including Erie, Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse.

The dry air will bring improvements for Saturday across the whole region. "There will be some rain across the I-95 corridor during the morning, but it will dry out from Philadelphia to Boston in the afternoon," said Travis.

Those with weekend plans will want to aim for the second half of Saturday or Sunday to avoid cancellations.

A warmup is expected to occur early next week across the East and will allow for a great opportunity for leaf peeping. Many trees are at or near their peak color.

However, another storm system is likely to come calling next week.

That storm come about from the balance of Simon's moisture and a new system dropping in across the Rockies. The new storm threatens to bring not only a dose of heavy rain, but also the potential for severe weather in parts of the Central and Eastern states next week.